Core covering apparatus with tension controlling and stopping means



G. P. ADAMS Aug. 19, 1947.

CORE COVERING APPARATUS WITH TENSION CONTROLLING AND STOPPING MEANS Filed Feb. 28, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/G. -Z INVENTOR G. P' ADAMS pr ATTORN r Aug. 19, 1947. (5. P. ADAMS 2,425,977

CORE COVERING APPARATUS WITH TENSION CONTROLLING AND STOPPING MEANS Filed Feb. 28, 1946 3 Sheets4heet 2 a I VENTOR -/-'/6.-a r e. RAD/1M5 A T TORNE Y Aug. 19, I947. G. P. ADAMS 2,425,977 CORE COVERING AfPARATUS WITH TENSION CONTROLLING AND STOPPING MEANS Filed Feb. 28, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v INVENTORQ j f 6 P ADAMS Afro/wry Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED STATES CORE COVERING APPARATUS WITH TENSION CONTROLLHVG AND STOP- PING MEANS George P. Adams, Baltimore, Md, assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 28, 1946, Serial No. 650,997

8 Claims. (01. 5719) This invention relates to apparatus for controlling the tension on filaments, and more particularly to apparatus for controlling the tension on tapes or strands being served upon conductors.

Insulated conductors are sometimes formed by advancing a conductor and serving a filamentary material, such as a tape or strand composed of insulating material, around the conductor as the conductor is advanced. If the tension of such a material becomes too great as it is wound on the conductor, the material may be broken, while if the tension on the material becomes too small, the material may be applied nonuniformly to the conductor. Hence, the tension on the material as it is applied to the conductor must be maintained within predetermined limits. It is also important to provide means for stopping the applying machine when the material breaks or the supply thereof becomes exhausted.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for tensioning filaments.

A tensioning apparatus forming one embodiment of the invention comprises a taping machine including a pivotal feeler over which a tape is drawn from a rotatable tape pad. The feeler and the tape pad are mounted on a rotatable serving head through which a conductor is advanced at a predetermined rate of speed. The serving head is rotated around the conductor and the tape advanced over the feeler to the conductor, and is wrapped upon the conductor as the serving head rotates so that the tape is drawn from the rotatable tape pad, and rotates the tape pad. A brake applies a retarding force to the tape pad'to tension the tape. If the tension upon the portion of the tape passing over the feeler becomes too great, the feeler releases the brake to cut out the retarding force, and if the tension becomes even greater, the feeler moves a switch actuator carried by the serving head into a position in which it will actuate a stationary switch mounted adjacent to the serving head and stop the machine. Also, if the tension on the tape becomes too small or if the tape is broken, the feeler moves the switch actuator into a position in which it actuates the switch to stop the machine.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of an apparatus forming a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus constituting one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevation of a portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical view of a portion of the apparatus shown partially in section, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, substantially vertical section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a taping machine (Fig. 1) serves to Wrap a tape l0 around a conductor H as the conductor II is drawn by a capstan !2 from a supply reel I 3 through guide rollers I5-l5, a serving head. It, which is driven by an electric motor I! and wraps the tape I8 around the conductor, and guide rollers 20-20. The capstan I2 is driven b means of positive gearing 22, which is driven through the serving head I6. Thus, the ratio of the speed of the capstan to that of the serving head is a constant. The conductor I l and the tape I i) wrapped therearound are advanced from the capstan by a take-up reel 25, and are distributed evenly on the take-up reel by a distributor arm 29, which is oscillated by a cam 21 and a tension spring 30. The cam 21 and the take-up reel 25 are driven imposi tively by a belt 3!, which is driven by the gearing 22,

The serving head 16 (Figs. 3 and 4) includes a disc 32 having a bore 33 formed therein, through which the conductor H is advanced by the capstan l2. A bracket 35 mounted on the disc 32 to one side of the bore 33 has a post 35 projecting therefrom. A pad-holder 31 for holding a pad 49 of the tape I0 is detachably mounted on a reelholder 38 on the post 36 and is freely rotatable thereon. The pad-holder may be removedfrom the reel-holder and a reel substituted therefor if it is desired to apply a strand to the conductor. As the tape I9 is wrapped on the conductor H, it is drawn from the pad 50 over a roller 42 supported by the bracket ,and under a roller 45 of a feeler it. The feeler 46 includes a feeler arrn-41 pivotally mounted on a pin 48 and having a cam lobe 50 formed thereon,

Normally the feeler 45 is held by the tape in a position indicated by the letter A, but when the tension on the portion of the tape between the conductor H and the tape pad QB becomes too great, the feeler 45 is drawn upwardly toward a position indicated by the letter B. As the feeler :26 is moved from the position A toward position B, the arm A? engages a spring-pressed pawl 49 (Fig. 5) formed on a pivotally mounted arm 53 and moves the pawl out of engagement with a ratchet 54 having internal teeth 5858. Normall the pawl engages the teeth of the ratchet, and exerts a retarding force on the rotation of the reelholder 38 and the pad-holder 31 mounted thereon to tension the tape i]. The disengagement of the ratchet and the pawl relieves the drag on th padholder so that normally the tension on the tape is relieved, the feeler 4% falls and the pawl reengages the ratchet.

However, under abnormal conditions, the tension on the tape continues to increase so that the feeler 46 (Fig. 3) is moved to position B. As the feeler 46 reaches position B, the lobe 56 strikes a lever 5| mounted pivotally on a pin 52, and turns the lever in a counterclockwise direction so that the lever 5| presses against a collar 55 fastened on an actuator rod 56, and moves the actuator rod downwardly against the action of a compression spring 51. When the actuator rod 56 is so moved, the lower end thereof is moved to a position in which it strikes a switch arm 6|] of a stationary switch 6| as the actuator rod is rotated past the switch. This actuates the switch 6 I, which serves to stop the electric motor I! (Fig. 1) when actuated, thereby stopping the taping machine so that the tape l will not be tensioned further and will not be broken.

If the tension on the portion of the tape l0 between the conductor II and the tape pad 40 (Fig. 3) becomes too small for properly wrapping the tape upon the conductor, or if that portion of the tape I0 is broken, or if the tape pad 40 becomes exhausted, the feeler 46 moves to a position indicated by the letter C. In so moving, an adjustable striker 65 carried by the feeler arm 41 strikes an arm 66 fastened rigidly to the lever and turn the lever 5| in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3. When the lever 5| is turned, the actuato rod 56 is moved in a position in which it actuates the switch 6| when it is rotated therepast and the taping machine is stopped.

In the operation of the taping machine, the conductor H is drawn through the serving head l6, which is rotated around the conductor at a predetermined rate with respect to the rate of travel of the conductor, and the tape I0 is served upon the conductor. As long as the tension on the portion of the tape between the conductor H and the tape pad 40 remains within predetermined limits, the feeler 46 remains near position A so that the taping machine continues to operate, and the pawl 53 (Fig. 5) remains in engagement with the teeth 5858 of the ratchet 54. However, if the tension on the portion of the tape l6 (Fig. 3) between the conductor and the tape pad becomes too great, the feeler 46 is moved from its position at or around position A toward position B, and as it reaches a position about half-Way between position A and position B, it moves the pawl out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet to eliminate drag on the padholder 31.

If, despite this removal of the drag on the padholder, the tension on the tape increases sufficiently to move the feeler to position B, the feeler actuates the switch 6| through the lever 5|, the actuator rod 56 and the switch arm 66. The actuation of the switch deenergizes the electric motor |1 (Fig. 1) and the taping machine is stopped so that the defective condition will be noted and may be remedied without breaking the tape.

If the tension on the portion of the tape ||l (Fig. 3) between the conductor II and the tape pad 40 becomes less than is required, or if the tape breaks, or if the tape pad 40 becomes exhausted, the feeler 46 moves to position C, and as it reaches position C, it actuates the switch 6| through the striker 65, the arm 66, the lever 5|, the actuator rod 56 and the switch arm 60. The actuation of the switch 6| deenergizes the electric motor I! (Fig. 1), and the taping machine is stopped so that the defective condition may be remedied.

As the above-described taping machine serves the tape |0 upon the conductor H, the tensioncontrolling apparatus regulates the tension on the tape I0, and prevents breakage of the tape as it is wound on the conductor M. It also prevents defective winding of the tape upon the conductor by stopping the winding when too much slack accumulates in the portion of the tape between the conductor and the tape pad 40. In addition to these advantages, the taping machine is stopped automatically when the tape breaks or the pad 46 becomes exhausted so that the conductor need not be drawn back through the taping machine prior to restarting the taping machine in order to form a continuous winding of the tape upon the conductor.

Obviously, the taping machine may be used to apply strands, or the like, as well as tapes to the conductor. Hence, the tension-controlling apparatus is equally efficacious in controlling the tension on strands. The term filament, as used in the appended claims, is intended to cover tapes, strands and other similar materials with which the claimed apparatus may be used.

What is claimed is:

1. A tensioning device, which comprises a filament supply, means for advancin a filament from the filament supply, means for driving the filament-advancing means, means for stopping the filament-advancing mean if the tension on the filament becomes greater than a predetermined amount, and means for stopping the filement-advancing means if the tension on the filament becomes less than a predetermined amount.

2. A tensioning device, which comprises a. filament supply, means for advancing a filament from the filament supply, electrical means for driving the filament-advancing means, a switch for deenergizing the electrical means, and a feeler having one end resting on the filament for actuating the switch when the tension on the filament becomes greater than a predetermined amount and for actuating the switch when the tension on the filament becomes less than a predetermined amount.

3. In a taping apparatus including a rotatable disc having an axial passage therein, means carried on the disc in a passage offset from the passage in the disc for holding a supply of tape, means for advancing a. conductor through the passage in the disc, means for rotating the disc around the conductor to Wrap the tape around the conductor and means for driving the conductor-advancing means and the disc-rotating means, a device for controlling the driving means comprising means positioned adjacent to the rotatable disc for stopping the driving means, an actuator carried by the disc for actuatin the stopping means, and a feeler carried by the disc and being movable to one position when the tension on the tape becomes greater than a predetermined amount 'for operating the actuator, said feeler being movable to another position when the tension on the tape becomes less than a predetermined amount and serving to operate the actuator when so moved.

4. In a taping apparatus including means for advancing a conductor along a predetermined path, a rotatable tape-holder spaced from the path of the conductor for holding a supply of tape, means for revolving the tape-holder in a predetermined circular path around the conductor to wind tape held by the tape-holder around the conductor and means for driving the conductor-advancing means and the tape-holder-revolving means, a device for controlling the driving means comprising trippable means positioned adjacent to the path of the tape-holder for stopping the driving means, an actuating rod mounted slidably on the tapeholder-revolving means, means for urging the actuating rod to a position in which it does not strike the trippable means, a lever having a pair of arms for pressing the actuating rod to a position in which it actuates the trippable means when either of the arms is moved, and a feeler having means for moving one of the arms and also being provided with means for moving the other arm.

5. In a taping apparatus including n eans for advancing a conductor along a predetermined path, a rotatable tape-holder spaced from the path of the conductor for holding a supply of tape, means for revolving the tape-holder around the conductor along a path spaced a predetermined distance from the conductor to wind tape held by the tape-holder upon the conductor and an electric motor for driving the conductoradvancing means and the tape-holder-revolving means, a device for controlling the driving means comprising a stationary switch positioned adjacent to the path of the tape-holder for step ping the electric motor, means including a lever having a pair of arms for actuating the switch when either of the arms i moved, and a feeler for moving one of the arms when the tension on the tape is greater than a predetermined amount, said feeler serving to move the other arm when the tension on the tape i less than a predetermined amount.

6. In a taping apparatus including means for advancing a conductor along a predetermined path, a rotatable tape-holder spaced from the path of the conductor for holding a supply of tape, means for revolving the tape-holder around the conductor along a path spaced a predetermined distance from the conductor to wind tape held by the tape-holder around the conductor and an electric motor for driving the conductor-advancing means and the tape-holder-revolving means, a device for controlling the driving means comprising an electric switch positioned adjacent to the path of the tape-holder for stop ing the electric motor, an actuator rod carried slidably on the tape-holder-revolving means for actuating the switch, a spring for urging the actuator rod in one direction to a position in which it does not actuate the switch, a lever having a pair of arms for pushing the actuator rod to a position in which it is slid in a direction opposite to the firstmentioned direction, a feeler for engaging the tape, said feeler having a cam lobe for engaging one of the arms of said lever to pivot the lever in the last-mentioned direction when the tension on the tape is greater than a predetermined amount and also being provided with a striker for engaging the other arm of the lever to pivot the lever in the last-mentioned direction when the tension on the tape is less than a, predetermined amount.

7. The tensioning device, which comprises a filament supply holder having a ratchet formed thereon and rotatable therewith, means for advancing the filament from the filament supply holder, means for driving the filament-advancing means, a pawl for engaging the ratchet, means for urging the pawl into engagement with the ratchet to create a drag on the filament supply holder to tension the portion of the filament being advanced from the filament supply holder, means for moving the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet when the tension on said portion of the filament becomes equal to a predetermined amount, means for stopping the driving means when the tension on said portion of the filament becomes greater than said predetermined amount, and means for stopping the driving means when the tension on said portion of the filament becomes less than a second predetermined amount which is less than said first-mentioned predetermined amount.

8. A taping apparatus, which comprises means i or advancing a conductor, a rotatable holder for carrying a supply of tape and also being provided with a ratchet formed thereon, a pawl for engaging the ratchet, means for urging the pawl into engagement with the ratchet, means for advancing the conductor relative to the holder, means for rotating the holder around a conductor advanced by the conductor-advancing means to wrap a tape held by the holder upon the conductor, means for driving the conductor-advancing means and the holder-rotating means, a movable feeler carried with the holder-rotating means for engaging the portion of the tape between the holder and the conductor, said feeler serving to move the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet on the holder when the tension on said portion of the tape becomes equal to a predetermined amount, means operable by the feeler when the tension on said portion of the tape becomes greater than said predetermined amount for stopping the driving means, and means operable by the feeler when the tension on said portion of the tape is equal to a second predetermined amount, which is less than the first-mentioned predetermined amount for stopping the driving means.

GEORGE P. ADAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,997,689 Junghanns Apr. 16, 1935 2,279,115 Ewaldson et a1 Apr. 7, 1942 1,943,716 Bardsley Jan, 16, 1934 2,001,546 Pourtier May 14, 1935 2,334,880 Marlow Nov. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 366,854 Great Britain Feb. 11, 1932 

